Single neon tube photographic printer



Sept. 21, 1954 R. T. BLAKELY 2,689,508

smcua uaou TUBE! PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTER Filed Dec. 21. 1950 4 Shets$heet 1 Ill/Ill!- INVENTOR. ROBERT T. BLAKE-ILY ATTORNEY.

' Sept. 21, 1954 R. T. BLAKELY SINGLE NEON TUBE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTER Filed Dec. 21.. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Go 2 \\\x\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\x\.\

a E Q i INVENTOR. ROBERT T. BLAKELY ATTORNEY.

Sept. 21, 1954 2,,689,5@&

R. T. BLAKELY SINGLE NEON TUBE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTER Filed D80. 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

ROBERT T. BLAKELY Sept. 21

Filed Dec FIGS R. T. BLAKELY v ZGEQEQQ SINGLE NEON TUBE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ROBERT T. BLAKELY ATTORNEY.

Patented, Sept. 21, 1954 UNITE STATES PATENT GFFEQ SINGLE NEON TUBE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTER Application December 21, 1950, Serial No. 202,050

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to photographic recording devices and more particularly it relates to a photographic recording device in which periorated record cards optically control the photographic recording of characters corresponding to perforations in the record card.

In previous devices of this general type the perforations of a record card have been sensed as by electrical analyzing means. Through an electrical control system it has been common heretofore to transfer to a film the data so sensed in perforated record cards by the selective transillumination of characters arranged in the pe-- riphery or a continuously rotating character drum bearing columns of data representations. In these prior devices, one of which is shown in the James W. Bryce Patent No. 2,346,251, granted April 11, 1944, each column of data on the character drum has associated therewith an individual gaseous discharge flash lamp which is momentarily illuminated under control of the record card analyzing means. These recording systems have been effective to transilluminate the drum character corresponding to the record card perioration and thereby cause exposure of a film with the consequent recording of the character on the film.

In the present invention, however, the periorated record card itself constitutes the control device through perforations of which characters of the rotating character drum may be transilluminated to effect exposure of the recording film. In this respect the perforated record card constitutes a mask for the columns of characters on the character drum and permits the transillumination of characters in the periphery of that drum only at those positions which correspond to a record card perforation. Furthermore, in the present invention a single flash tube extends axially through the drum and the same is adapted to flash at each index point in the rotation of the character drum and the passage of the, perforated record card in conjunction therewith. Consequently, whenever a perforation in the record card. a character on the character drum, and the lens system of the photographic recorder are in alignment the drum character will be recorded on a recording film when the lamp is flashed.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the invention to provide a card analyzer and photographic recorder which avoids control devices intermediate the card and the recording medium.

More specifically it is the object of this invention to provide a high speed photographic recordprovide in a photographic recorder having a rotating character drum means for feeding a perforated record card into association with the periphery oi the character drum and in synchronous movement therewith. To this end a positive, interrelated drive is provided for feeding perforated record cards through a closed course into contact with the periphery of the drum as the drum is rotated.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description of the recorder is read in reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. i is a side elevational view of the recorder;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view through the recorder;

Fig. 3 is an axial, sectional view through the transilluminatable character carrying drum;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the character carrying drum;

Fig. 5 is a diagram of the recorder control circult: and

Fig. 6 is a timing chart of the various circuit making devices of the control system.

The rotatable character bearing drum, its illuminating lamp, and the photographic mechanism including a lens system and a film feed mechanism are housed within a light-tight cabinet. Within the cabinet is provided a driving motor it which drives a shaft l2. Shaft i2 has attached to one end thereof a gear M which, through a train of gears, is adapted to drive a gear 22 which is afllxed to a hub of the character drum. Specifically, the gear l4 operates through gears l5 and IB which are mounted for rotation on stub shafts lea and I80, respectively. The gear i8 is in operativecontact with a gear 20 which in turn contacts the teeth of the character drum drive gear 22. The ear 22 is afiixed to the hub 26 o! the character drum 26.

The character drum gear 22 is adapted to drive peripherally arranged gears 28, 30 and 32. The gear 30 is in contact with an idler gear 34 which in turn drives a pair of gears 36 and 38. The gear 28 is in mesh with an idler gear 40 which drives a gear 42 which is attached to a shaft ll on which is fixed the brush arm of an electrical impulse emitter 48 of well known construction.

The gear 32 drives a train of gears comprising gears 48, 49, 50, 52, 54 and 56. Gears 20, 20, 30, 32, 36, 38, 48. 52 and 54 have affixed to their drive shafts 20a, 28a, 30a, 32a, 36a, 38a, 48a, 52a and 54a, respectively, record card feed rollers (Fig. 2) 20b, 28b, 30b, 32b, 36b, 38b, 48b, 52b and 54b. The feed rollers are disposed on the interior of the cabinet and extend into a record card feed course through which perforated record cards may be fed. It will appear from the foregoing, therefore, that there is a positive drive connection from the drive motor I to the character drum 26 as well as to the several record card feed rollers. By this device the feed of cards by the feed rollers is maintained in synchronism with the rotation of the character drum 28. This function follows from the fact that the feed rollers are all positively driven, and one or more of these rollers are in feeding contact with the card at all times as a card passes through the feed course.

Feeding of record cards through the feed course is effected periodically by operation of a reciprocating card picker which is under control of an electromagnetically operated single-revolution clutch device. A gear 58 is freely rotatable on a shaft 62 and is continuously driven by the motor I0 through the gear train above described, including the gear 56 meshing with the gear 58. The gear 58 has attached thereto a notched disc 64 constituting one element of a single-revolution clutch. Secured to the shaft 62 is an arm 66 on which is pivotally mounted a dog 68 normally restrained from engagement with the notched disc 64 by a latch armature 10. The latch armature I0 is pivoted on a pin 100 about which it is adapted to rock in one direction under the influence of its associated magnet 72 and in the other direction under the influence of a spring 12a. Energization of the magnet 12 will attract the latch armature 10, thereby releasing the dog 60 to engage the notch in the notched disc 64 and thereby permit the shaft 62 to rotate through a single revolution. Rotation of the shaft 82 09- erates the crank arms 14 and 16 of a reciprocating card picker I8 in a well known manner, there by causing the card picker I8 to feed one card from a card hopper 80. When a card is advanced from the bottom of the stack in the card hopper 80 so that its leading edge comes into contact with the first set of feed rollers 38?) and 3812, the card will be fed into the closed course which will lead it into association with the character drum at the character exposing position. The feed rollers 36b and 38b will advance the card into contact with the feed roller 30!) and from thence the card will be under the successive control of feed rollers 28b and 20b, which are respectively located about and below the exposure position of the character drum. Thereafter, the card is engaged by the last two pairs of feed rollers 32b-40b and 52b54b. The last pair of feed rollers will deposit the card into a stacker 02 which is of well known construction.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that the closed course through which the cards are fed is composed of guide blades 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 86 and 98. Guide blades 84 and 86 constitute a spaced pair, while guide blades 88 and 90 are disposed in spaced relation to the periphery of the character drum 26 and cooperate therewith in the feed of cards about said drum. On the discharge side the guide blades 92 and 94 constitute a first spaced pair, while guide blades 96 and 98 constitute a second spaced pair. It will be observed by viewing Fig. 2 of the drawings that the guide blades constitute segments of the closed card feed course, and that the several feed rollers extend into substantial feeding contact between the several segments of the guide blades.

The tip of a card feed lever I00. which is mounted for rocking movement about a pivot pin l0l, extends through the guide blade 85. The passage of a card under the tip of the card lever I00 rocks the same sufficiently to close a card lever contact I02. Near the end of the first card feeding cycle, card lever I00 closes card lever contact I02.

Details of the character drum 26 may be seen in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The drum is of the same type as that shown in Figs. 10 and 11 of the aforesaid Bryce patent, and differs therefrom in that it is provided with a single flash tube I04 which extends through the drum parallel to the axis thereof. It is suflicient to note that the drum 20 has an opaque wall in which is formed columns of transilluminatable characters 260 which correspond to the several index points of a conventional perforatable record card.

Herein the camera mechanism is the same as that shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the Bryce patent No. 2,346,251 and specific description thereof is. therefore, deemed unnecessary. It is sufficient to say that the camera mechanism I06, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is attached to one end of the recorder casing and that it includes a lens I06a which is in-alignment with the lamp I04 and an exposure slot I20 in the guide blade 90. The camera mechanism includes appropriate supply and take-up reels and feed sprockets, together with convenient mechanism for rotating the same to feed the photographic film I22 in timed relation with the rotation of the drum 26, i. e. the film is advanced once for each card cycle. This mechanism as suggested heretofore may be that shown in the Bryce patent noted. A contact I08 is arranged to open when the supply of film in the camera mechanism has been exhausted. It is contemplated that a film feed magnet H0 (see Fig. 5) be also provided, this magnet functioning in the same manner as the magnet 06 in Fig. 4 of the aforementioned Bryce patent. Generally, the film feed is effective to move the film at least one line space after each card passes the exposure position, which is represented by the opening I20 hereinafter described. Thus, the film is moved intermittently, one increment for each card passing the exposure position, so that the data from a single card will be photographically reproduced on one line on the film.

The operation of the recorder is under the control of cam operated contacts CCI to CC'I (see Fig. 5) inclusive. By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the gear 50 is adapted to drive gears 50a and H2. These latter gears are mounted for rotation on stub shafts in the side wall of the casing and the gear H2 is in mesh with a drive gear II4 which is aflixed to 'the end of a shaft 6 which extends through the casing and is journalled in hearings in the side walls thereof. By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be noted that a contact operating cam H8 is carried by the shaft H6 for rotation therewith. The cam H8 is in operative contact with the contact CCI. It will be appreciated that similar cams on the shaft 6 are associated with each of contacts 002 through CCl. whereby the contacts are positively closed in the timed relation indicated in the timing chart of Fig. 6.

During recording operation, perforated record cards are fed from thecard hopper by the card picker II, as heretofore described. As the cards are fed one by one from the bottom of the stack in the card hopper 80, they pass through the closed card course under the influence and control of the card feed rollers as heretofore described. In their passage through this course, the cards pass the exposure slot I20 in the guide blade 90. As the successive index points of the cards pass the opening I20, the flash tube I04 is momentarily flashed once at each index point of the record card. At any index point in the record card at which a perforation occurs, the flashing of the lamp I04 will transilluminate the corresponding underlying character on the character bearing drum 26, thus causing an image of such character to be recorded on the film I22 in the camera I06. The film is fed one line space for each card after recording is completed for that card.

The control of the recorder is best understood by reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings which is a circuit diagram. In operation of the machine and after a supply of record cards has been placed in the card hopper 80, the switches I24 and I26- are closed to supply potential to lines I28, I30 and I32, I34. A start key I36 is now depressed to energize the card feed clutch magnet I2 and the relay R5. The first card in a progression will a be fed from the card hopper and near the end of the first feeding cycle, the cord lever contact I02 will close and such closure will cause ener gization of the relay RI. The start key I36 must new again be depressed or alternatively it may be held depressed to effect feeding of the second card. Thereafter, when the card lever contacts I02 open between cards the relay RI will be maintained energized by the holding circuit established through relay contacts RIa and cam contacts 003. Relay contacts RIb and contacts Ra maintain magnet R5 and clutch magnet I2 energized until film contacts I08 open or until the cards in the card hopper 80 are exhausted, whereupon relay RI will be deenergized. Recording may also be interrupted by depressing a stop key I38 which will break the control circuit.

With relay RI energized and upon closure of cam contact CO4 in the following cycle, relay R2 will be energized and it will be maintained energized by relay contacts RM and by cam contacts 0C5. Near the end of this cycle of operation cam contacts CCI close, and with contacts R2c closed, a circuit will be completed to energize relay R4. The relay contacts R40 close and a circuit is thereby completed from the high voltage source line I32, through the resistor I40, through contacts R411 now closed, through condensers I42 and to the other side of the line I34. Near the end of the cycle, relay R3 is energized through cam contacts C06 and relay contacts RZb. Relay R3 is maintained energized by its contacts R311 and cam contacts CCI. At the end of this cycle the leading edge of. the card will be aligned with the center of the slot I20. During the next cycle a condenser discharge circuit is completed to the flash tube I04 at each index point under control of the emitter 46 (EMI in Fig. 6). This circuit extends from the flash tube I04, through the line I44, the appropriate one of the condensers I42, through the emitter 46, through contacts R31), through line I46, and back to the tube I04. At any index position of the card where a perforation appears, the corresponding transilluminating character of the character drum will be recorded on the film I22 in the camera. Near the end of the cycle cam contacts CC2v close to complete a circuit through relay contacts R30 to energize film feed magnet I I0.

Having explained the invention in an exemplary form, it is contemplated that the practice thereof be not limited to the specific form illustrated and described, but that various changes and modifications within the spirit of the invention may be made.

I claim:

1. In a photographic recorder having means for advancing a photographic film through an exposure zone and a continuously rotating, charac-' rotating drum, means for instantaneously fiashing said lamp as the characters on the drum are successively presented at said exposure position, so as to project onto said photographic film an image of any character on said drum which is in registry with a perforation of a record card at said exposure position and when said lamp is flashed, and means for operating said film advancing means to move the film a distance equivalent to at least one line space after each of said cards has moved past said exposure position.

2. In a photographic recorder having means for advancing a photographic film through an exposure zone and a continuously rotating, character carrying drum on which a plurality of columns of transilluminatable characters are arranged. the combination of a lamp within the drum, an exposure position at which the characters on the drum may be transilluminated, a closed guide course comprising a plurality of guide plates extending in close proximity about a substantial peripheral portion of said drum through which perforated record cards may be fed intocontact with the periphery of the character drum at said exposure position continuously rotating feed rollers associated with said guide plates for feeding perforated record cards through said closed course, a single continuously operating drive motor, intermeshed gears continuously connecting said drive motor, said feed rollers, and the drum for effecting continuous synchronous operation of said rollers and the drum, means for instantaneously flashing said lamp as the characters on the drum are successively presented at said exposure position, so as to project onto said photographic film an image of any character on said drum which is in registry with a perforation of a record card at said exposure position and when said lamp is flashed, and means for operating said film advancing means to move the film a distance equivalent to at least one line space after each of said cards has moved past said exposure position.

3. A photographic recorder in accordance with claim 1, in which said exposure position is an elongate slot parallel to the axis of said drum and a single character in width, and in which said lamp is a single elongate lamp disposed within said drum parallel to the axis thereof and adjacent to said exposure position.

4. In a photographic recorder having means for advancing a photographic film through an exposure zone and a continuously rotating, character carrying drum on which a plurality of columns of transilluminatable characters are arranged, the combination of a magazine for a plurality of perforated record cards, means for successively moving said cards from said magazine, means for moving the successive cards continuously through a closed guide course extending in close proximity about a substantial peripheral portion of said drum, the last named means comprising a plurality of card feed rollers. certain of which cooperate with said drum to move cards therebetween, said card feed rollers and said drum being arranged at such locations along said closed course that a card passing along said course is always under the control of at least one pair or drive means including said rollers and said drum, said card feed rollers and said drum being so constructed and arranged that cards will be brought successively into registry with predetermined portions of said drum, so that predetermined characters on said drum will appear through particular pertorations 0! said cards respectively, a single elongate light source disposed within said drum and extending parallel to the axis thereof, an exposure position at which said characters on said dmm may be transilluminated. said exposure position extending lengthwise of said drum parallel to the axis thereof and being a single character in width, a common drive means for positively continuously driving said drum and all said rollers, means for instantaneously flashing said light source as each row of characters on said drum is successively presented opposite said light source at said exposure position, and means for operating said film advancing means to move the film a distance equivalent to one line space after each of said cards has moved past said exposure position. all the aforesaid means being so constructed and arranged that said light source is effective to project onto said film an image of any character on said drum which is in registry with a perforation of a record card at said exposure position when said light source is instantaneously illuminated.

References Cited in the ills of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Smith June 4, 1940 Bryce Apr. 11, 1944 Schubert Feb. 8, 1949 Yohn June 14, 1949 Number 

